The Nets are one of the more confident, most optimistic teams ever to reside five games under .500 at the All-Star break.

The Nets know they have a tough path for the playoffs and by the end of Thursday’s trading deadline, they will know if they will try as constructed or with help.

Trade or not, they are convinced they have enough to make a push for the postseason and get back in the playoffs. The Nets began the season with “development” as the key word. And they are happy with the progress.

“I really like what we have. I like the way we’re playing. Our young guys are emerging and feel more confident,” said Vince Carter, whose name surfaces almost daily in trade rumors but as the lifeblood of the team with Devin Harris, he’ll probably stay put. “But we still have a long way to go.”

Tough way, too. They are 24-29 and have beaten some quality teams but they’ve also lost to some dregs. The rest of the way, the Nets’ opponents have a combined .544 winning percentage (821-688). The remaining 14 home games show teams playing at .555. The 15 road games present a .534 percentage. And 18 of the 29 opponents are in playoff position.

The Nets must get healthy. Then they must continue defensive improvement. For most of the season, the Nets couldn’t guard a locked door. But for the last 10 games, they’ve yielded 92.9 points per game. That is the best mark in the league for that span.

They were without both starting forwards the last five games. Bobby Simmons missed those five, and Yi Jianlian sat the last 16. Yi visits the doctor today, hoping for clearance for Tuesday when the season resumes in Houston.

“We’re still right in it,” said All-Star Harris. “There’s a process: continue to learn, get guys healthy.”

Then win, say, 15 games? Last year, 37 victories got Atlanta in the playoffs. Today, Milwaukee is eighth with a .473 percentage. And 39-43 translates to .475. So the Nets would need to go 15-14 the rest of the way.

“What we need is consistency. Easy to say, tough to do,” said Jarvis Hayes, who along with Keyon Dooling has been a bench blessing.

They’ve shown repeatedly they are capable. Ironically, the Nets found a real path through injuries. When Josh Boone went down with a bad ankle, the middle was handed to Brook Lopez. Fans started drinking peroxide when they heard a Stanford twin was playing center. But Lopez – and remember, he’s 20 – racked up 12 double-doubles. He’s scored 31 in a game, taken 17 rebounds. He’s active. He blocks shots. He can stick a jumper.

Ryan Anderson also is developing. Great one night, bad the next – he’s a work in progress. But no one faults his hustle and ability to spread defenses with 3-point range. And he rebounds.

“Best rebounder on the team,” Lopez said.

The Carter-Harris duo has been good for upwards of 40 points a night. More and more, Harris sees defenses designed to stop him. He knows he must adjust.

“Obviously people are adjusting to me, and I have to take it to the next level and see what I have to do to become more effective,” Harris said.

Around Carter, the question is will he be here? He is having an exceptional season. There are interested teams (start with Cleveland). But gut feeling says he stays. Trade him and yank the rug out on the season.

“We are not actively making or fielding calls about trading Vince,” said GM Kiki Vandeweghe.

So do the Nets deal? The Simmons for Larry Hughes deal remains doable. The Nets would like another point and to upgrade the three. But if nothing presents itself, they’ll stay put.